Putting practice kit and method

ABSTRACT

A practice putting kit and training method for practicing the aiming a golf ball, aiming the putter, and keeping the putter head square. The kit includes a laser golf ball that produces a planar, laser beam of light. Printed on the outer surface of the golf ball is a centrally aligned reference line aligned with the laser. The laser is connected to a control switch, an optional timer, and a battery that enables the golfer to selectively control its activation. The golfer practices aiming the reference line at the target line and then uses the laser to verify if aiming was correct. The kit also includes a stand that holds the golf ball in an elevated position behind the golfer. During use, a standard golf ball is placed in front of the golfer and the stand and laser golf ball are positioned behind the ball and aimed at the golf ball so that the laser beam illuminates the top of the ball and the target line. The golfer watches the path of the golf ball and the putter head with respect to the laser line to determine if the putter was properly aimed and square.

[0001] This utility patent application is based on the provisionalpatent application (Serial No. 60/434,353) filed on Dec. 17, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to devices and methods forpracticing putting a golf ball, and more particularly, to such devicesand methods that helps a player properly aim the ball and putter anddetermine if the putter returns to square when striking the ball.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Putters with large wide heads are propular today. Printed on thetop surface of the putter is a reference line that is aligned with thehead's center axis and perpendicular to the front face.

[0006] When putting, it is important that the golfer properly aim theball at the cup. Typically, the golfer uses a ball with a referencecenter line printed on the ball's surface that is longitudinally alignedwith the target line to the cup. Typically, the golfer manually rotatesthe ball on the ground just prior to the putt so that the reference lineis longitudinally aligned with the target line. Some golfers will alignthe reference line while standing directly over and others will alignthe reference line while standing directly behind the ball on theopposite side of the cup. After the reference line on the golf ball asbeen proper aligned with the target line, the golfer then positionshimself over the ball to execute the putt.

[0007] In order to properly execute a putt, the golfer must properly aimthe putter at the desired target using the reference lines on the golfball and on the putter. When the putter impacts the ball, the face ofthe putter should be aligned on the ball so that the putter head'scenter of gravity and the ball's center of gravity are aligned with thetarget line. Like many physical activities, the acts of aiming the ball,aiming the putter at the target, and swinging the putter so that theputter head is impacts the ball in a square position requires hundredsof hours of practice. In order to master these tasks, the golfer mustcontinuously monitor the execution of these aspects of putting and takeany corrective action or steps, if necessary, so that the desiredoutcome is obtained.

[0008] What is needed is a putting practice kit and training method thatallows a user to practice aiming the ball, aiming the putter and puttingwith the putter head square with the ball using his or her own putter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a practiceputting kit and training method that allows a user to practice aimingthe ball, aiming the putter, and keeping the putter head square.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provided such akit and method that is easy to use at home or on a standard puttinggreen with the golfer's favorite putter.

[0011] These and other objects of the invention are met by a kit andtraining method disclosed herein that uses a laser golf ball with abuilt-in laser generating means disposed inside a regulation size golfball body. The laser generating means is aligned inside the golf ballbody so that planar laser beam of light is produced that islongitudinally aligned with the golf ball body's center axis. Printed onthe outer surface of the golf ball is a centrally aligned reference linelongitudinally aligned with the laser beam. The laser generating meansis connected to a control switch, an optional timer, and a battery thatenables the golfer to selectively control its activation. In thepreferred embodiment, the control switch, timer and battery are mountedinside a control box electrically connected to the golf ball body. In asecond embodiment, the control switch, timer and battery are mountedinside the golf ball body. The golfer practices aiming the referenceline on the golf ball body at the target line and then uses the lasergenerating means to verify if the aim was correct.

[0012] The kit also includes a stand that holds the golf ball body in anelevated position behind the golfer. During use, a standard, regulatedgolf ball is placed in front of the golfer. The stand and golf ball bodyare positioned behind the regulated ball and aimed at the golf ball sothat the laser beam illuminates the top of the ball, the top of theputter, and the target line. The golfer watches the path of the golfball and the location of the laser beam on the top of the putter head asthe putter is swung to determine if the putter was properly aimed andsquare.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the putting practice kitdisclosed herein shown with the first embodiment of the laser golf ball.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevational view of the secondembodiment of the laser golf ball.

[0015]FIG. 3 is top plan view of the first embodiment of the laser golfball showing the alignment of the laser beam with the reference line ofthe golf ball body.

[0016]FIG. 4 is an illustration showing a putter adjacent to aregulation ball with the laser beam produced by the laser golf ballextending over the reference line on the putter and on the regulationgolf ball.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0017] Referring to the Figs. there is shown a golf putting kit,generally referenced as 10, that includes a laser golf ball 12 with abuilt-in laser beam generating means 20. Printed or formed on the sidesof the golf ball 10 is a centrally aligned reference line 38 as shown inFIG. 3. In the preferred embodiment, the laser beam generating means 20is a laser generating diode 21 mounted inside a centrally aligned bore22 formed inside a golf ball body 13 or 13′. A laser-reflecting prism 26is mounted over the laser generating diode 21 that is used to produce avertically aligned, planar laser beam denoted as 29.

[0018] The planar laser beam 29 is preferred over a pinpoint laser beambecause it produces a projected light “line” from the laser golf ball tothe target. The laser beam 29 is oriented vertically so that acontinuous line is produced with the center axis of the golf ball body13 or 13′ is diagonally aligned When a golf ball or putter is placed inthe field of the laser beam 29, a portion of the laser beam 29 is seenon the golf ball 70 or putter 75. Typically, a stand 15, is used toslightly elevate the laser golf ball 12 so that laser beam 29 isscattered downward to delineate the path of the laser beam 29 on theground.

[0019] During use, the laser golf ball 12 or 12′ is aimed so that thescattered laser beam 29 extends from the ball 70 to the intended target.Because the player has a visual reference that extends from the ball 70to the target, the when the ball 70 is struck, the player may observeits path of travel relative to the target line.

[0020] In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lasergenerating diode 21 is electrically connected via a wire 36 or awireless communication means to a control switch 32 and battery 34housed inside a control box 30. Located inside the control box 30 is anoptional timer 40 that allows the golfer to selectively control when andhow long the laser beam 29 is activated.

[0021] In a second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the laser generatingdiode 21, control switch 32, battery 34, and timer 40 are all mountedinside a regulation-size golf ball body 13′.

[0022] The kit 10 also includes a stand 50 designed to hold the lasergolf ball 12 or 12′ to elevate the laser golf ball 12 or 12′ one to twoinches above the putting green. In the preferred embodiment, the stand15 includes three legs 16, 17, and 18 and attached to a triangular base19. As mentioned above, when using the kit to practice aiming the putteror squaring the putter, the laser golf ball 12 or 12′ is placed on thestand 50.

Aiming the Ball

[0023] When using the kit 10 to practice aiming a golf ball 70 at thecup, the user stands over or behind the laser golf ball 12 or 12′ androtates it so that the reference line 38 is longitudinally aligned withthe target line as shown in FIG. 3. After the golfer has aimed the ball,the laser generating diode 21 is activated to produce the illuminatedbeam 29. If the reference line 38 is properly aimed at the target line55, the laser beam 29 illuminates the desired target line 55. If thereference line 38 is not properly aimed, the golfer can easily determineif the ball was mis-aligned and what corrective action should be taken.By repeating the exercise, the golfer slowly becomes trained at aimingthe ball at the target line 55 when by standing behind or over the ball.

Aiming the Putter

[0024] As stated above, the kit 10 is also used to properly aim theputter at the target and to square the putter 75 on the ball 70. Inorder to practice aiming the putter at the target, the ball with thelaser mounted therein is placed on an elevating stand 50 behind aregulation golf ball used for putting. The laser golf ball 12 or 12′ isrotated so the laser beam 29 is aimed at the target line 55 andilluminates the reference line 76 on the putter 75 when the putter 75 isswung at the ball 70. The ball 70 is placed in the putting area andaligned with the laser beam 29 so that the laser beam 29 bi-sects theball and the reference line 76 of the putter 75.

Determining if the Putter is Square

[0025] When executing a putt, the laser golf ball 12 or 12′ are placedon the stand 50 so that the laser beam 29 crosses over the top of theputter 75 and illuminates the top portion of the ball 70. By monitoringwhether the laser beam is aligned with the reference line 76 on the topof the putter 75, the golfer can determine if the putter was square onthe ball at impact. The optional timer is connected to the laser lightthat allows the golfer to selectively control activation of the laserbeam 29 during use. For example in some instances, it may be desirableto keep the laser beam 29 constantly activated so that the target lineis illuminated at all times. In other instances, it may be desirable tointermittently activate the laser beam so that that laser beam 29 ismomentarily discontinued during a shot so that the golfer's eyes areproperly trained to look at specific directions.

[0026] Using the above-described kit, a method of practicing aiming agolf ball is provided, comprised of the following steps;

[0027] a. selecting a laser golf ball with a built in planar laser beamgenerating means and a reference means formed on said ball's outersurface, said reference line being longitudinally aligned with a laserbeam formed by said laser beam generating means;

[0028] b. placing said laser golf ball in the putting area;

[0029] c. visually aiming said reference line with a desired targetline; and,

[0030] d. activating said laser-generating means to verify if thereference line has been aimed properly at said target line.

[0031] Using the above described kit, a method of practicing aiming theputter and determining if the putter head is square with a golf ballwhen hit is also provided, comprising the following steps:

[0032] a. a. selecting a laser golf ball with a built in planar, laserbeam generating means and a reference means formed on said ball's outersurface, said reference line being longitudinally aligned with a laserbeam formed by said laser beam generating means;

[0033] b. placing said laser golf ball in an elevated position behindthe putting area;

[0034] c. placing a golf ball in said putting area.

[0035] d. activating and aiming said laser beam generating means so thatsaid laser beam illuminates the top portion of said golf ball and thetarget line from said golf ball to the cup;

[0036] e. putting said golf ball with a putter and monitoring the pathof the ball with respect to said illuminated target line, whether thelaser is aligned with a reference line on the putter, and the area ofsaid putter illuminated by said laser beam when said putter impacts saidball.

[0037] In compliance with the statute, the invention described hereinhas been described in language more or less specific as to structuralfeatures. It should be understood, however, that the invention is notlimited to the specific features shown, since the means and constructionshown is comprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting theinvention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in any of itsforms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of theamended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with thedoctrine of equivalents.

I claim:
 1. A practice putter kit, comprising: a. a laser golf ball witha built in planar laser beam generating means and a reference meansformed on said ball's outer surface, said reference line beinglongitudinally aligned with a laser beam formed by said laser beamgenerating means; b. means to control the activation of said laser beamgenerating means; and, c. a stand used to hold said laser golf ball inan elevated positioned above the putting green.
 2. The practice putterkit, as recited in claim 4, wherein said laser beam generating means isa laser generating diode.
 3. The practice putter kit, as recited inclaim 1, wherein said laser beam generating means includes a prismmounted over said laser generating diode to produce a planar laser beam.4. The practice putter kit, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means tocontrol the activation of said laser beam generating means is anexternal control box containing a control switch and batteryelectrically connected to said laser beam generating means.
 5. Thepractice putter kit, as recited in claim 4, wherein said laser beamgenerating means is a laser generating diode.
 6. The practice putterkit, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means to control the activationof said laser beam generating means is a control switch and batteryelectrically connected to said laser beam generating means and mountedinside said laser golf ball.
 7. The practice putter kit, as recited inclaim 6, wherein said laser beam generating means is a laser generatingdiode.
 8. The practice putter kit, as recited in claim 7, wherein saidlaser beam generating means includes a prism mounted over said lasergenerating diode to produce a planar laser beam.
 9. A method ofpracticing aiming a golf ball is provided, comprising the followingsteps; a. selecting a laser golf ball with a built in planar laser beamgenerating means and a reference means formed on said ball's outersurface, said reference line being longitudinally aligned with a laserbeam formed by said laser beam generating means; b. placing said lasergolf ball in the putting area; c. visually aiming said reference linewith a desired target line; and, d. activating said laser generatingmeans to verify if the reference line has been aimed properly at saidtarget line.
 10. A. method of practicing aiming the putter anddetermining if the putter head is square with a golf ball when hit isalso provided, comprising the following steps: a. a. selecting a lasergolf ball with a built in planar, laser beam generating means and areference means formed on said ball's outer surface, said reference linebeing longitudinally aligned with a laser beam formed by said laser beamgenerating means; b. placing said laser golf ball in an elevatedposition behind the putting area; c. placing a golf ball in said puttingarea. d. activating and aiming said laser beam generating means so thatsaid laser beam illuminates the top portion of said golf ball and thetarget line from said golf ball to the cup; e. putting said golf ballwith a putter and monitoring the path of the ball with respect to saidliminated target line and the area of said putter illuminated by saidlaser beam when said putter impacts said ball.